In the world of Colombian football, certain historical moments intersect with events that transcend the courts. One of those curious links is the one that unites the arrival of a new Pope to the Vatican with the titles of Colombian Professional Soccer (FPC). Throughout more than seven decades, only three clubs raised the local trophy in coincidence with the appointment of a new Pontiff, Santa Fe, Millionaires and Atlético Nacional.
In 1958, when John XXIII was chosen as the successor of Pius XII, Santa Fe achieved the National championship. Five years later, in 1963, with the arrival of Paul VI to the throne of San Pedro, Millionaires reached his sixth star. Later, in 1978, an exceptional year in the Vatican with the appearance of two popes – Juan Pablo I and Juan Pablo II – the Blues of Bogotá also celebrated, obtaining their tenth title.
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The short tournaments brought a new era to the FPC, and in it, Atlético Nacional was the protagonist. In 2005, when Benedict XVI was proclaimed Pope, the Verdolagas rose with their eighth championship. In 2013, with Francisco’s choice, they repeated the feat, this time adding its title number twelve.
Meanwhile, clubs such as Santa Fe, Deportivo Cali and again Santa Fe, occupied the second place of the podium in those years, also making part of this unique chronology.
As the calendar progresses and the most traditional teams in the country are emerging to dispute the decisive phase of the championship, some fans and analysts begin to wonder if this will be one of those years in which fate, faith and the ball are intertwined.
National Atlétic While Independiente Santa Fe seems to have a foot inside after his victory over Llaneros, a key triumph that allowed him to climb in the table after weeks of irregular results that generated discomfort in his hobby.
Millionaires celebrated its last championship in 2023, surpassing precisely National in the final. For their part, the Verdolagas hold the current title, which makes them the team to win. On the other hand, Santa Fe loads with a drought that is already approaching at age ten, his last consecration was in 2016, when he defeated Tolima Sports. Since then, they have played three more finals, but they ended up giving the trophy.
Before his name officially appeared on the balcony of the Basilica of San Pedro, Robert Prevost was already a known figure in different corners of Latin America. His choice as Leo XIV, the new leader of the Catholic Church, not only marks the continuity of Francisco’s pontificate, also highlights the deep link that the new Pope has with the Latin American continent, and in particular, with Peru.
The now Pontiff was born in Chicago in 1955, but his pastoral life took him very far from the United States. For years, he developed an intense missionary work in Peru, where she was not only bishop, also Archbishop Emeritus of Chiclayo. It was precisely to this community that directed a special message in his first words after being proclaimed successor of San Pedro.
The most anticipated moment by millions of believers occurred with the traditional Blanca smoking, which left the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, indicating that the conclave had reached a consensus. The Plaza de San Pedro, as usual, exploded in joy before the arrival of the new spiritual guide. When he finally looked out on the balcony, Leo XIV went to the entire world with a message that combined humility, firmness and hope: “The Pope who blessed Rome and gave his blessing to the entire world that morning of Easter Day. Let me give me continuity to that same blessing, that God loves us very much, God loves us all. The evil will not prevail.”
